Welcome to the first playoff edition of Opposition Research, where I’ll be taking stock of the Packers instant-replay wild card opponent, the Arizona Cardinals. Considering that the two teams just played, there isn’t much to add or change from last week’s more standard take on the Cardinals. With the national media descending on the match, there’s no shortage of articles, angles, and predictions. Let me walk you through just a few as we get set for the Packers return to the postseason.

Ken Whisenhunt’s grand “plan” for the Packers… didn’t work out quite how he anticipated. Yes, many of his starters will be fresher and more rested than their Green Bay counterparts. Yes, a humiliating 33-7 loss could motivate the team to come out angry and eager to punish someone. But with injuries to key players and a very lopsided score, there have been rumblings that the Packers won the week because they were able to get under Whisenhunt’s skin. Whisenhunt has denied this, of course, but it makes for good pre-game hype. I like what DJ Gallo said about the Cardinals’ level of effort (or lack thereof) last Sunday:

It was a desperate attempt to recapture the late-season stink of 2008 that propelled them to the Super Bowl. Or something.

I think [Whisenhunt]’s helped build a false sense of confidence in the Packers locker room. Listening to Aaron Rodgers after the game you sense that he feels invincible this week. That he’ll be able to move up and down the field against the Cardinals in the playoffs with the same ease he did in the preseason and meaningless regular season finale.

When looking at the Packers on film… the Cardinals and their fans see two big threats: Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson. If you have the time, I highly recommend that you listen (all podcasts) to the hour-long show that the ARI announcers/analysts have done for the Packers. In shorter segments (w/HC Whisenhunt) and in other formats, they come across more pro-Cardinals, but given time to get into the nitty gritty of the game, you can tell that they see what the Packers bring to the table: a cannon-armed QB leading a team that blows the doors off the league in turnover differential (+24).

In Aaron Rodgers, they know he can “make all the throws.” They know that he’s been protected more the last half of the season. Whisenhunt thinks Rodgers is a “student of the game,” and is very impressed with the speed at which he gets the ball out of his hand. Even Kurt Warner sidled up to Rodgers in pre-game to ask “if I could have just a little bit of that arm, because I don’t know what that feels like to be able to throw it like he can.” But, even with all of his success, fans think that Rodgers can be rattled with pressure and 1st-down blitzes.

Coming here [to Green Bay], the way people have embraced me, the way they respect the way I play the game, community-wise, for me there’s a loyalty there. I wouldn’t want to leave these people. That’s coming from my heart. I would not want to leave them.

They’re not talking a whole lot about Clay Matthews, though…at least not yet. The Cardinals have to be concerned, though, and I’m sure they are. LT Jeremy Bridges allowed Matthews to get 3 hits on Warner (1/3 of Warner’s snaps) and another handful on backup QB Matt Leinart. If the Cards bring in a TE or RB to chip Matthews, they’ll be limited in their ability to run the 3- or 4- receiver sets that have been their bread and butter all season long.

A few things to chew on: One thing from last week’s game really sticks with me. Rodgers came out, really, one play away from passing Lynn Dickey in the Packers franchise history books. His reaction?

I can’t say I wasn’t aware of that. I knew I was short by the time I came out. But, I will definitely take a repeat of this season and the way we played for the rest of my career. That would be great.

Contrast that with Larry Fitzgerald, who stayed in long after CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and WR Anquan Boldin left with injuries, in order get his 100th reception and catch a league-leading 13th TD. He achieved the latter goal, following a Matt Flynn interception, but it feels cheap to me. The Colts left their starters in just long enough for Peyton Manning to get Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark to 100 receptions each (in doing so, Manning got to 4500 yards even). I know it’s part of the game, but it’s not one I relish. I’m with A-Rod, except that I’m not satisfied with this year’s performance for the rest of his career. As a spoiled Packers fan, I’m going to expect more.

Yes, the Cardinals appear cocky and overconfident going into this game, despite even the starters having played poorly in both match-ups with the Packers. Here’s the thing – they can get away with it. Of Arizona’s starters, only two key players don’t have extensive playoff experience, including experience on the road, and they can be excused because they’re rookies (RB Beanie Wells and KR/RB LaRod Stephens-Howling). Yes, the Packers went to the NFC title game in 2007, but the following players were not a key part of those two home games: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Jordy Nelson, TE Jermichael Finley, RG Josh Sitton, DE B.J. Raji, OLB Clay Matthews, OLB Brad Jones…and our tertiary secondary — CB Josh Bell, CB Brandon Underwood, CB Trevor Ford. Most of the roster has never played a road playoff game. When you have that kind of advantage going into a playoff atmosphere, you can afford to be cocky.

The playoff celebrations may have started early in W16, as players and fans alike watched Carolina pile up points on the Giants. W17 became a snoozefest as soon as the Vikings finished manhandling that same team in the 1p game and denied Arizona any shot at a bye week. Like the prior two weeks, the Packers will know where they’ll go with a win before the ball is kicked off. If Dallas snuffs Philly for a third time, it’s off to New Orleans. An upset by Philly, however, will send the Packers back to the Metrodome for Favreageddon III. (Say what you want about the match-up, even Nick Barnett acknowledged there would be “a little extra cherry on the top of that game.”)

This is not Week 17’s Arizona Cardinals: The worst thing that could happen is if the Packers look at the last two games against the Cardinals (in PW3 and W17) and think this week will be remotely similar. I don’t think that will happen, of course, because game film and common sense dictate otherwise, but it’s still a concern, say, if Rodgers thinks he’s going to be have time to knit more sweaters and gets back to pre-Tampa bad habits.

We as fans must be careful, too, to not become overconfident. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to a few players that got the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs in back-to-back years. Some of these players we’ve seen for a brief while, some we haven’t seen at all, but each of them is likely to ratchet up their intensity come Sunday afternoon.

We know that QB Kurt Warner is good. His career passer rating is 93.7, he’s thrown for 100 TDs for two teams, and he’s seen just about every blitz cooked up in history. What’s going to get him into Canton, however, is his performance when it counts. Warner owns the three highest single-game passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history, and his overall performance is second only to Green Bay’s Bart Starr. I can give you all the stats you want, like how he’s got a 78.2 rating on 3d down, or how he’s thrown 14 INTs and fumbled the ball 11 times. But here’s the bottom line – when it’s “win or go home,” Warner tends to kick into another gear.

I don’t think anyone could confuse the Cardinals’ running game with that of Dallas or Baltimore, but rookie RB Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells has incredible potential to make noise in the postseason. Mostly an inside runner, he’s hard to bring down, and will fight for additional yards. If the Packers aren’t gap-sound on Sunday, Wells could break off 15-yard chunks up and down the field. Combined with RB Tim Hightower, who can do more damage in the passing game, Wells adds another dimension to the Cardinals offense and will force the Packers to respect the run.

Put simply, RDE Darnell Dockett is an absolute bruiser with a mean streak. He followed his 9-sack performance in 2007 with a disappointing 4-sack 2008 season, only to explode in Super Bowl XLIII with 3 sacks of Ben Roethlisberger. In 2009, his 7-sack, 1-INT, 1-FF performance earned him another trip to the Pro Bowl. Expect #90 (and #93 LDE Calais Campbell, who also has 7 sacks on the year and will be playing with a club cast on his broken thumb) to hunt out and exploit weaknesses in the Packers offensive line.

However, Aaron pointed out that Dockett might not be the biggest threat to Aaron Rodgers and the offensive line coming into this playoff game. And I agree, because the Packers have faced tough pass rushers before, in MIN’s Jared Allen and Ray Edwards, DAL’s DeMarcus Ware, BAL’s Trevor Pryce, SF’s Justin Smith, PIT’s LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison (to name a few). But the Packers have never faced a safety like SS Adrian Wilson. This is our first opportunity to play against an elite, blitz- and hit-happy safety. We escaped Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, but if we want to make it to the divisional round, we have to get past Cardinals #24.

Paired with FS Antrel Rolle, these two present one of the best safety tandems in the league. Let’s also not forget that Arizona’s defensive coordinator Bill Davis uses Wilson like Capers uses Woodson – as his all-around go-to playmaker. (A note on Davis – he studied under Capers from 1992-1998 with Pittsburgh and Carolina. This guy knows defensive schemes.) But, back to Wilson. Last year’s highlights show Wilson to be fearless when rushing or in coverage. This year’s clips are fewer, but his stats are impressive: 75 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 INTs, 1 forced fumble, and 13 passes defended. Add the fact that he joined the 20-sack 20-INT club in his 9th year in the league, and you have to respect this cagey vet. Expect #24 to mimic Woodson and line up over Finley all over the field.

While this account by Eric Baranczyk (sub req’d) is a must-read, it completely omits any discussion of Wilson. Wilson left early in Sunday’s game, but he must be the #1 priority for the Packers going into this wild card game. You’ll always be able to find Dockett lined up on the DL, but Wilson? Wilson? (Cue the Cast Away references now.)

It’s easy to believe injuries will play a role in Sunday’s game, and they very well might. After all, if S Antrel Rolle (bruised thigh), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee), or DE Calais Campbell (thumb) are unable to play at a high level, the Cardinals have few playmakers in reserve. That said, as soon as the hand-wringing began on Sunday night, I called bunk – I still believe that all three of these will play key roles in Sunday’s game. Now, Anquan Boldin? With two new injuries (high ankle sprain + sprained MCL), he’ll be doubtful to go. If he’s limited or out, the Cardinals know that WRs Early Doucet and Steve Breaston will have to carry the load.

As I mentioned at the top, many of the scouting reports are unchanged from last week. The Cardinals are still going to be gunning for Jarrett Bush, and there’s no denying that Beanie Wells makes that team better than the one that won the NFC a year ago. So, what should we expect?

As for the “expert picks,” the Yahoo! experts say the Packers D isn’t good enough to hang with Kurt Warner and the Cardinals. Meanwhile, in ominous fashion, Green Bay is the unanimous pick by the ESPN experts…all 10 of ‘em. Even the Jets got 4 votes.

That said, in its Wild Card Weekend Preview video with Tedy Bruschi, ESPN talks at length about how Arizona is a resilient team and can bounce back from anything, including injuries to Anquan Boldin. About the Packers? And I’m not leaving anything out here, “Obviously, the Packers, a formidable wild-card road team.” I know it was only a 5-minute segment to get at all 4 wild-card match-ups, but I feel gypped. Thanks, Tedy.

ESPN’s scouting report gives the Packers the edge in all phases but offensive line, special teams, and coaching, and predicts the Packers to win by 9. My last WhatIfSports simulation had the Packers winning 38-20 with Rodgers going 18/28 for 231 and 3 TDs. I don’t believe it, though, because Clay doesn’t even register a tackle.

What do I really think? I think the Packers can win. I think the Packers should win. But I also see some very easy ways the Packers can lose (remember, Kurt Warner is very very very good in the postseason), and it starts with that damned ‘confidence’ crap. Maybe they can walk the fine line between confident and cocky, but I can easily see Rodgers coming out winging it…at which point I’ll begin bashing my head against the wall.

Yeah Kevin, Whisenhunt has us right where he wants us. Are you kidding? Having played football I can tell you honestly: LOSING HURTS. Bear in mind, GB rested guys as the win was locked up; a more traditional way to finish on top and not push too hard. In a 45 man starting lineup, there are only so many guys you can sit anyway. I can't see how this lopsided victory couldn't leave a seed of doubt for the Cards.

Holly, I have to agree that your analysis
is truly insightful, well researched and
above all, honest. I missed your site the
last couple weeks,(snowmobiling) but won't
do that again. I believe in the big MO and
our Pack has it in spades. Great job,Holly.

I highly doubt Rodgers will come out winging it. This is his first trip to the playoffs and he want's his name mentioned with the rest of the greats, this is his best opportunity to get that done. Although this will be his first trip to the playoffs he knows the level of ball he needs to play.

Great work Holly,I look forward to reading your post every week. This has been one of your best ones yet.

It's hard to judge the way they played last week. I think it will be a much closer game. I don't know about locking in on <a href="http://www.sportevents.com/super-bowl-tickets-and-packages" rel="nofollow">Superbowl tickets</a> just yet although I think GB has looked good during parts of this season

I moved to AZ the same year as the Cards, in 1988, and followed them somewhat since (we moved from the Valley in 1997). Back then, the Cards' following was pretty shallow; they'd sell out Sun Devil Stadium (their original Tempe home) when the Cowboys, Packers, Bears and Steelers came to town, but rarely otherwise. As we all know, the Cardinals were really crappy for seemingly forever (Gene Stallings was the brightest of the coaching crop, which included Buddy Ryan and Joe Bugel), and most Phoenicians already had allegiances to the teams from where they came (my wife is actually one of three native Arizonans know to exist). So what you have now are the bandwagoners; fans who ignored the team for their first 20 years in the Valley, only to climb out of the woodwork last season when they made their run through the NFC playoffs.

That's what makes the obnoxious comments from (some of) their fans so amusing. These guys have no idea who Neil Lomax was, or Larry Centers, or Roy Green, or Eric Hill, or Aeneas Williams. They don't know any of the guys who played before. They don't know that the Cardinals are the oldest franchise in the NFL (originally called the Racine Cardinals- not for the city in Wisconsin, but the street in Chicago).

I like the Packers' chances in this game, but they'll have to play well. Cards' fans hoping that the Packers think it will be a walk are going to be disappointed, because I think everyone knows how dangerous they can be, but the Packers simply have too many weapons on both sides of the ball.

And thanks for reminding me of the WhatIf site; I wasted a half-hour going through various scenarios against both the Cards and the squareheads to the west. Most seem to suggest a Packer victory, although not all. I think McCarthy needs to keep to his late season game plan.

"Tertiary Secondary?" Nice!
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Leave it to me to be paranoid about our coach, but I'm going to be. In 2008, I kept opining that McCarthy purposely scaled back Rodgers on occasion simply because McCarthy had the "grand scheme" for assigning responsibility to Rodgers, and he wasn't going to deviate it for a moment. (The ridiculous 3-straight runs against Carolina and the asinine screen pass on 3rd down at Tennessee are the main culprits). Anyway, let's hope McCarthy doesn't have some similar "playoff plan" for Rodgers, limiting his responsibility so as to minimize the pressure on him. I want to see him do exactly what he has been doing all season...and if he flings it around, I'm fine with that. This is a team we should be able to do that against.

&gt; I’m with A-Rod, except that I’m not satisfied with
&gt; this year’s performance for the rest of his career. As
&gt; a spoiled Packers fan, I’m going to expect more.
*
I laughed and laughed. I really enjoyed this piece as well. I definitely feel ready for Sunday! Thanks for all your work!

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."